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8.09.2015

Whoa...I'm making an appearance on this sadly neglected blog? Yes, yes I am.
I'm stopping in because there is some cool Spartan race news I just found out about and I figured I would share with you. I am sure there are some awesome athletes who may read this and want discount codes and race news, right? YES. I'm putting a Spartan race on my must-do race calendar for next year when it returns to Austin (along with Rock 'N Roll half marathon New Orleans in February and another triathlon at some point), and hopefully there is a race soon near you if you are interested.

By the way, Spartan races not just for crossfitters and endurance race fanatics. They are for anyone who wants to challenge themselves in a whole new way. Who doesn't want to take on this challenge and say they completed a Spartan race? It's sort of the best obstacle race you can complete, with mad bragging rights.

Want to hit up a race before summer is over? Good news, I've got a code for you to save some moola. Use code: SPARTANSUMMER to save $20, $30 or $40 off a race. Lucky you.

We all know that misery loves company, er, athletic prowess loves company, so I can imagine if you sign up for a race you will be dragging your nearest and dearest, and most badass, friends along with you.

Recruit three friends and your next race is free.

We have more races than ever, in new locations. We also have new obstacles, new burpees, new finisher tees, new medals and new stories to tell. So when your friends hit you with excuses, you have the facts to hit them with.

Recruit three of your friends sign up, you’ll get your next race on us; completely free! Your friends will also get $20 off of their race. That means everyone wins.

We’ll see you and your team at the starting line. Use Code: TEAM

You can look up a race near you, or plan a "race-cation", which is a great opportunity to visit a new place AND get your Spartan on. Just check out this link for more details. Ahem, there are races in Canada and

Europe. Can you say destination race?

Calgary friends, there is a race NEXT WEEKEND for you. You're welcome.

Prepare for your next Spartan Race with a FREE Spartan Workout! Learn exercises from official Spartan SGX Coaches to help you over the toughest of obstacles while you train with like-minded Spartans. Earn your signature "I'm Training for a Spartan Race" T-shirt and wear it with pride while you continue to train up until race day. All you need to bring is some water, a towel, and friends!

4.05.2015

My book releases in less than 25 hours. Yes, so soon. Tuesday April 7th at midnight (like what comes right after 11:59pm on Monday April 6th, just to be clear) A Taste of Bliss will go live on all e-book retailers I have uploaded to. Which is practically all of them, because I like to cover my bases like that.

Know what else is cool? I have a paperback that is ALREADY available to order. Because who doesn't want to be able to buy the hardcover early? If you buy it off Amazon and still want a Kindle version, I have ebook matching on so you save $2 off the Kindle price of $2.99.

When I received my paperback proof in the mail last week and held my book for the very first time, I was brought to tears. Every part of this journey has been humbling and incredible, but actually holding my physical book in my hands was the craziest part. This is a big, crazy, surreal dream that is actually coming true after a lot of hard work and a lot of dreaming big. I can hardly believe it.

3.20.2015

Uh, hey there, Happy Girl followers--if there are any left!
I have news.
Good news.
Good news as in book news, because y'all know that's my life now.

Look at that beautiful cover. It's pretty dreamy, right? Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover designs put that beauty together with photos shot by Josh Baker of AzulOx Visuals. It's a little light and almost "chick lit" style for the kind of story it is, but I like it. I didn't want to put a black and white man chest with bold lettering on my cover. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE those covers on other books, but for this one, I needed something different.

And more news!
A Taste of Bliss has a release date! April 7, 2015 my little novel that could will go out into the world of ebooks and try to make a name for herself. I'm keeping my expectations realistic and low: No one knows about me. I don't have a back stock of books that I can use as a stepping stone or a large fan base from previous releases. Nope, I am doing this all indie style. I'm trying to build a fan base on my Facebook page, Instagram and Twitter. Maybe through those interactions I can drum up some likes and sales. Who knows.

You know what would make this book a success for me?
Just to have my book published.
It doesn't matter if I make back the money I put into producing it (um, even though it's self-published, it was definitely NOT free. I paid a professional editor, cover designer, formatter, hired a PR company, bought ISBN numbers, bought domains and built a website, etc.), I am not looking to make money off this. Oh, of course, it would be amazing to get some sales, but if I don't and my expectations are high, I'll be disappointed.
I do not want to be disappointed.

Want to know how you can help me out? Spread the word.
Yup, that's it. Post my pre-order and social links anywhere you want to. Tell your friends.
Read the blurb; if you like it, tell someone else.
If you really feel like supporting me, buy a copy from one of the many places I will have it for sale.
If you like what you have read, review it wherever you bought the book. Those reviews mean so much. Mostly, they tell other readers what you thought, which can help them decide if they want to purchase the book for themselves.

All Bliss Kaufman wanted was a sandwich and a nap after a grueling day beautifying this week’s bridal party. So when a bartender with a panty-melting grin offers her dinner and a ride on his motorcycle, Bliss swerves from her plans for one unexpected night with Talan McGregor. Just one. It was never supposed to go further. But once isn’t enough for Talan who returns demanding more--and his timing couldn’t be worse.

A life-changing diagnosis forces Bliss to abandon her carefully crafted plans. Even though she can make anyone beautiful with enough makeup and hair product, she can’t fix everything with her 50-pound bag of beauty tricks. Bliss is starting to think she might need Talan after all, but letting him in means cracking open her heart and embracing a life without a safety net.

After all, love is life’s greatest complication, and might just be worth the risk.

1.13.2015

You know what's good? When you make a recipe that is easy and makes you feel like you're eating decently. I love striving for health when it comes to my food, but dang, I hate the preparation involved to get there. Enter the genius of throwing a bunch of stuff in your fridge into a skillet and steam-frying (totes legit cooking term) it all together until yumminess occurs. Well, B, the veggie hater, would say the sausage part was good, but he still ate the bowl I served him.

1.01.2015

My little blog turned four years old yesterday. I wasn't a very good blogger in 2014, so of course I didn't write up a year in review post, or wish The Happy Girl Blog happy blogiversary. Instead, I lived outside the computer, had friends over for mass amounts of delicious food, drinks and hours of entertainment via Cards Against Humanity. You find out the true depravity of people with that game, and it's wonderful.

2015 is going to be the year of dreaming big and chasing after them. My 2015 vision board was made back in October while in Newport Beach, (thanks to the fortuitous timing of my visit and the friend I saw who arranged for a career coach to lead the board creation), and I am already running full speed ahead toward those goals.

I plan to publish the first of four planned books early this year. If I can get to the other three and put out a fantastic product I'm proud of, you better believe I will get all four out there.

I want to learn as much as possible about being an indie author (read: self-published), and each day it seems like something new is presented to me. I do not have monetary goals other than to make back the investment I've put into this process. Sure, finding success and seeing great sales is the cherry on top, but really, it's more about getting the story out of my head and into the hands of readers, connecting with them, and being happy with my work.

I do not plan to be a better blogger. My new author friend Heidi Joy Trethaway has a resolution to say NO more often, to make room for YES. Because being creative takes time and energy. If you spend your time and energy on everything else that is asked of you, you have less time to create and make the most of your time. Or something like that. I will have to learn to say no more often to make sure the quality of what I put out is better. That means saying no to social events, things that take time away from writing, and finding a way to string up my monkey mind so it's not bouncing every which way when I sit down to write. Sorry sweet little blog, that means fewer entries, and I am okay with that. You can stay up to date with me via my new website, AdrianRHale.com, on my author Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter. I have a blog feature on the website that will hopefully get more content as I get closer to publishing this monster, and will make this blog less book focused.

So what are your 2015 goals and resolutions? Are you dreaming big, like me?